Control system



March 14, 1933. w. A. MINKLER 1 0 3 CONTROL SYSTEM Fil ed April 17, 1931WITNESSES; INVENTOR 02% Wil Ii ajm flMinkler'.

' BY, t t 7 AT'IORNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES WILLIAM A.MINKLER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNCBI TO WESTING 'HOTJSEELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL VANIA CONTROLSYSTEM Application filed April 17,

My invention relates to control systems and, more particularly, tocontrol systems which may be utilized to operate a plurality ofcurrent-responsive devices.

5 An object of my invention is to provide a simple, reliable andinexpensive electrical control system for actuating a plurality ofcurrent-responsive devices in timed sequence.

It is also an object of m invention to provide for actuating a plura ityof currentresponsive devices, in timed sequence, by electronic means.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide for utilizing adischarge device and a timing circuit to operate a plurality ofcurrent-responsive devices which function to connect, successively, thedischarge device and its associated timing circuit with eachcurrent-responsive device.

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter become apparent. I

This invention, accordingly, is disclosed in the accompanying drawingand comprises the features of construction, the combination of elementsand the arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in theconstruction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application ofwhich will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and the objects of theinvention, reference should be had to the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a control system constructed inaccordance with my invention, and l I Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view oi amodified form of the control system.

In general, my control system provides for operating a plurality ofcurrent-responsive devices, in timed sequence, by utilizing anelectric-discharge device and a timing circuit connected in circuitrelation thereto. The

" timing circuit provides for controlling the electric-discharge device,whereby the plurality of current-responsive devices may be successivelyactuated at definite intervals of time which depend, for their duration,upon the time constant of the timing circ ;it.

1931. Serial No. 530,926.

the discharge device and the timing circuit are successively connectedin circuit with each of the current-responsive devices.

In other words, a definite time interval after the establishment of anenergizing circuit for the timing circuit and the discharge device,depending on the time constant of the timing circuit, operation of thefirst of a series of current-responsive devices is effected. Operationof the first current-responsive device interrupts the circuit for thedischarge device and establishes circuits whereby the secondcurrent-responsive device of the series is connected in circuit with thedischarge device. After a predetermined interval of time, as determinedby the time constant of the timing circuit, the discharge devicefunctions'to energize, and thus actuate, the second current-responsivedevice which thereupon causes the deenergization of the dischargedevice, and the connection of the discharge device in circuit with athird current-responsive device. According to my invention, as justbroadly outlined, any number of current-responsive devices may thus beoperated in timed sequence.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, the reference characters 10, 11 and12 designate, generally, a plurality of current-responsive devices,such, for example, as relays which may be utilized to operate electricmotors or any other electric devices. Although only three relays areshown in Fig. 1, it will be readily understood that any number of relaysmay be associated with the discharge device, designated generally byreference character 15.

The electrical-discharge device 15 is provided to actuate the relays intimed sequence. As shown, this device comprises a control electrode 20,a cathode 17 and an anode 18, which elements will be designated as theprincipal electrodes whenever the control electrode is subjected topotential of the proper value and sign relative to the principalelectrodes the ischarge device becomes conducting, thereby permittingdirect current to flow between t e principal electrodes.

The timing circuit comprises a ca acitor 32 and a variable resistor 30connects in circuit with the control electrode through acurrent-limitingresistor 34. A source of direct-current power of ap connected across thean e and cathode. By appro riate adjustment of the timing circmt, t epotential of the, control electrode, relative to the principalelectrodes, when the timing circuit fully char ed may be predeterminedwhereby the discharge device may be caused to function a predeterminedinterval of time after being connected to the source of supply.

The discharge device and its associated timing circuit and the relaysare disposed to be energized from the.supply conductors and 27 which mabe connected to any suitable source of irect-current power (not shown).

To efl'ect the operation of the relays in timed sequence, each relay isprovided with a pluralit of contact fingers and contact segments. isshown, the actuating coil 13 of the relay 10 is connected in circuitwith the discharge device 15 throu h the upper or back contact members35. enthe timing circuit has been fully charged, the discharge devicefunctions, w ereupon current flows from the positive conductor 25,through conductor 19, the principal electrodes 18 and 17 of thedischarge device 15, the conductors 21,

22 and 23, the contact members and the actuating coil 13, of the relay10 to the negative conductor 27.

As will be noted, when the armature of the relay is raised, the circuitabove traced is broken at the contact members 35 and, in consequence,the discharge device is deenergized. However, the momentum, ac uired bythe upwardl moving armature wi 1 be suflicient to cause it to continueits movement, thereby establishing a holding circuit from positiveconductor 25, through'conductor 48, contact members 40, and actuatingcoil 13, to the negative conductor 27 "Operation of the relay 10 alsoefi'ects the closing of the contact members 45, whereby a circuit isestablished from the positive conductor 25, through .conductor. 19,anode 18, cathode 17, conductors 21, 22 and 24, contact members of therelay 10, conductor 26, upper or back contact members and the actuatincoil 54 of the relay 11, to the negative con uctor. Since the opening ofthe contact members 35 deenergizes the discharge device 15, the timingcircuit is subjected to a charging .action from the direct-currentsource of power the instant the discharge through the device 15 ceases.A predeterropriate voltage is mined interval of time after-this actiontakes efiect, depending on t e adjustment of the timin circuit, thedischarge device again functions, thereby permit-ting current to flowthrough the actuating coil 54 by the circuit above traced. Operation ofthe relay 10 interrupts the circuit for the discharge device at contactmembers 35; establishes its own holding circuit through contact members40; and connects the principal electrodes of the discharge device incircuit with the actuating coil 51 of the relay 12. The cycle ofoperation just explained may be repeated again and again, thuscontrolling an indefinite number of relays;

In explaining the operation of the control system, more in detail, itmay be assumed t at the su ply conductors 25 and 27 are energized.mmediately upon the energization of the timing circuit, the capacitor 32will begin to charge throu h the variable resistor 30. As will be readiy understood, the rate at which the capacitor is charged depends uponthe settin of the variable resistor 30. When the capacitor is charged toa predetermined extent, the control electrode 20 attains such potential,relative to the principal electrodes 17 and 18, that the dischargedevice becomes conducting, thereby causing the operation of rela 10, asheretofore explained.

Operation 0 the relay 10 causes interruption of the circuit fromconductor 19 through anode 18, cathode 17 and coil 13, but, at the sameinstant or a trifle later, (depending upon the design of the relay) aholding circuit is established for coil 13 through contact members 40.It is, of course, apparent that the disposition of cont-act members 40with reference to contact members 35 may be such that the holdingcircuit is established an instant before the circuit is interrupted atcontact members 35. In any case, the discharge device is deenergizedwhen the contact members of relay 10 move to their operative positions.

Operation of the contact members to circuit-closing position connectsthe discharge device and its timing circuit in circuit with the relay11. Upon the estabYishment of this circuit, the capacitor 32 will againbegin to charge through the variable resistor 30. When the capacitor ischarged to a predetermined extent, the discharge device a ain becomesconducting, and current ows through the principalelectrodes to energizethe actuating coil 54 of the relay 11.

Relay 11 is, in every particular, like relay 10 and, when caused tooperate, as just explained, repeats the cycle of operation efiected byrelay 10. It is thus apparent that the repeated functioning of thedischarge device may cause the operation of any number of relays 10, 11,12, etc., in timed sequence.

A modification of the control system shown in Fig. 1 is illustrated inFig. 2, wherein two discharge devices and 61 are utilized instead ofone. The functioning of these discharge devices is thesame as thatdescribed for the discharge device in Fig. 1, with the exception thatthe relays which are to be actuated are alternately connected in circuitwith the discharge device. In other words, the functioning of thedischarge device 60 actuates the relay 65. Operation of the relay 65connects,the discharge device '61 and its associated timing circuit incircuit with the relay 66 through the contact members 70, of the relay65, whereupon relay 66 is caused to operate by discharge device 61.Operation of relay 66 connects the discharge device 60 and itscontrollin timing circuit in circuit with the relay 67 through thecontact members 7 4 of the relay 66. In a similar fashion, the operationof the relay 67 connects the discharge device 61 and its controllingtiming circuit in circuit with the relay 68. It is evident, therefore,that any number of relays may be alternately connected to a plurality ofdischarge devices having equal or unequal time constants.

While the illustrated example constitutes one practical embodiment of myinvention, I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details hereinillustrated, since the structure may be considerably varied Withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A control system, in combination, a supply ofelectrical energy forthe control system, an electric-discharge device having a plurality ofelectrodes connected in circuit relation with the supply of electricalenergy, a timing circuit associated with the electrodes to control theoperation of the discharge device, a current-responsive means connectedin circuit with the discharge device and controlled thereby, meansoperated by the current responsive means to disconnect it from thedischarge device, and a holding circuit, whereby the current-responsivemeans is energized independently of the dis charge device.

2. A control system, in combination, a plurality of current-responsivedevices, a supply of electrical energy for the control system, anelectrical-discharge device for controlling the current-responsivedevices, the said electric-discharge device and the saidcurrentresponsive devices being connected in circuit relation with thesupply of electrical energy, a timing circuit for controlling theoperation of the discharge device, means for connecting the timingcircuit and discharge device in circuit with one current-responsivedevice, and means actuated by said current-responsive device forconnecting the timing circuit and the discharge device in circuit withanother current-responsive device.

3. A control system, in combination, a plurality of current-responsivedevices, a supply of electrical energy for the control system, anelectrical-discharge device for controlling the current-responsivedevices, a timing circuit for contro lin the operation of the dischargedevice, and means actuating by the current-responsive devices forconnecting the timing circuit and the discharge device in circuitrelation with the supply of electrical energy.

4. A control system, in combination, a plurality of current-responsivedevices, a supply of electrical energy for the control system, anelectric discharge device for controL ling the current-responsivedevices, means actuated by the current-responsive devices for connectingthe current-responsive devices in timed sequence with the dischargedevice and the supply of electrical energy, and holding circuits,whereby the current-responsive devices are energized independently ofthe discharge device.

5. Ina control system, in combination, a plurality of current-responsivedevices, a supply of electrical energy for the control system, aplurality of electric-discharge devices for controlling thecurrent-responsive devices, said electric-discharge devices andcurrent-responsive devices being connected in circuit relation with thesupply of electrical energy, means for alternate y connecting the,current-responsive devices in timed sequence with the discharge devices,and holding circuits, whereby the current-responsive devices areenergized independently of the discharge devices.

6. A control system comprising, incombination, a plurality ofcurrent-responsive devices disposed to be operated in timed sequence, anelectric-discharge device for controlling the sequential operations ofthe current-responsive devices, a timing circuit for controlling theoperation of the electricdischarge device, circuit connections betweenthe current-responsive devices themselves and between each of thecurrent-responsive devices and the electric-discharge device, and meansresponsiveto the operation of the first and each of the succeedincurrent-responsive devices for so establis ing the circuit connectionsthat the electric-discharge device is successively connected in circuitrelation with each of the current-responsive devices.

7. A control system comprising, in combination, a plurality ofcurrent-responsive devices disposed to be operated intimed sequence, anelectric-discharge device for controlling the sequential operations ofthe current-responsive devices, a timing circuit for controlling theoperation of the electricdischarge device, circuit connections betweenthe current-responsive devices themselves and between each of thecurrent-responsive devices and the electric-discharge device, meansresponsive to the operation of the first and bination, a plura each ofthe succeeding current-responsive devices for so establishing thecircuit connections that the electric-discharge device is successivelyconnected in circuit relation with each of the current-responsivedevices, and a self-energizing circuit for each current-responsivedevice, so that, when each currentres nsive device is operated, itremains energized independently of the electric-discharge device.

8. A control s stem comprising, in combination, a plura ity of relaysdisposed to be operated in timed sequence, each of said re lays having aplurahty of contact members, an electric-discharge device forcontrolling the sequential operations of the relays, a timing circuitfor controlling the operation of the electric-discharge device, circuitconnections between each relay and the electric-.

discharge device, the circuit connections for the second and eachsucceeding relay being so connected in circuit relation with the contactmembers of the receding relay that, when the preceding re ay operates,the subsequent relay is connected in circuit relation with theelectric-discharge device.

9. A control system comprising, in combination, a plurality ofcurrent-responsive devices disposed to be operated in timed sequence, anelectric-discharge device for controlling the sequential operations ofthe current-responsive devices, means ing the periodic operation of theelectricdischar e device, circuit connections between each of thecurrent-responsive devices and the electric-discharge device, and meansgoverned by the operation of the first and each succeedingcurrent-responsive device for establishing a circuit connection betweenthe electric-discharge device and the next current-responsive devic'e tobe operated.

10. A control s stem comprising, in comity of relays disposed to beoperated in timed sequence, a source of electrical energy, means forsuccessively connecting the relays in circuit relation with the sourceof energy, said means including an electric-discharge device, a timingcircuit associated with the electric-discharge device, and circuitconnections between each relay and the electric-discharge device andbetween the relays themselves.

11. A control system comprising, in combination, a plurality of relaysdisposed to be operated in timed sequence, contact members for eachrelay, a source of electrical energy, means for successively connectingthe relays in circuit relation with the source of energy in timedsequence, said means including an electric-discharge device, a timingcircuit associated with the electric-discharge device, and circuitconnections between each relay and the electric-dischar e device andbetween the contact members 0 the relays, the said connections being sogoverned by the contact members of each relay that, when the contactmembers are in one position, the relay itself is connected in circuitrelation with the electricdischarge device, and when the cbntact membersare in another position, the sub uent relay is connected in circuitrelation wi the electric-dischar device.

12. A contro stemcomprising, in combination, a plurality of relaysdisposed to be operated in timed sequence, contact members for eachrelay, a source of electrical energy,

means for successively connecting the relays in circuit relation withthe source of energy m timed s uence, said means including a pair ofelectric-discharge devices, a timing circuit for each electric-dischargedevice, and circuit connections between the relays and theelectric-discharge devices and between the contact members ofthesrelays, the said connections being so governed by the contactmembers of each relay that, when the contact members are in oneposition, the relay itself is connected in circuit relation with one ofthe electric-discharge devices, and when the contact members are inanother position, the subsequent relay is connected in circuit relationwith the other electric-discharge device.

13. A control system comprising, in combination, a plurality of relaysdisposed to be operated in timed sequence, contact members for eachrelay, a pair of electric-discharge deefiectw vices for controlling thesequential operations of the relays, a timing circuit associated witheach electric-dischar e device, circuit connections between the refilysand the electric-discharge devices and between the contact members ofthe relays, the circuit connection for the odd-numbered relay beingsuchthat the said odd-numbered relays are connected in circuit relationwith one of the electric-discharge devices, and the circuit connectionfor the even-numbered relay being such that, when the precedingodd-numbered rela operates the subsequent even-numbered re a isconnected in circuit relay with the other e ectric-discharge device.

14. In an electric system of control for controlling the operation ofelectric devices, in combination, a pluralit of current responsivemeans, an electric ischarge device controlling the operation of saidcurrent responsive means, timing circuits associated with said devicefor controllingthe successive operations of said discharge device,circuit connections for connectin one current responsive means to thedisc arge device and disconnecting it from the discharge device andmeans controlled by the said one current responsive means tosuccessively interconnect said other current responsive means with saiddischarge device.

15. In an electric system of control for controlling the operation ofelectric devices, in combination, a plurality of current-responsivemeans arranged in a given order, an electrio discharge device, and aplurality of circuit connecting devices associated with saidcurrent-responsive means and discharge device to effect alternateoperation of said discharge device and successive current-responsivemeans.

16. In an electric system of control for controlling the-operation ofelectric devices, in combination, a plurality of current-responsivemeans arranged in a given order, a pair of discharge devices, and aplurality of circuit connecting devices associated with saidcurrent-responsive means and discharge devices for alternately operatingone of the discharge devices and successive odd-numbered currentresponsive devices and for alternately operating the other of saiddischarge device and successively even-numbered currentres onsivedevice.

1 A control system, in combination, a plurality of current-responsivedevices, a supply of electrical energy for the control system, a pair ofelectricdischarge devices for controlling the current-responsivedevices,

25 means governed by the current-responsive devices for connecting theodd-numbered current-responsive devices in timed sequence with one ofthe discharge devices and the suply of electrical energy, and meansgovernedy the current-responsive devices for connecting theeven-numbered current-responsive devices in timed sequence with theother -e1ec tric-discharge device and the supply of electrical energy.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 6th day ofApril 1931.

WILLIAM A. MINKLER.

